According to the back of Hello, My Name Is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick
by Alexandra Watkins, 6 million companies and more than 100,000 products are launched every year. If you’ve ever tried to name a company or a product, you know that it’s mighty hard to do. In this short and easy-to-read book, the author thoroughly explains the attributes of a good name. She then gives lots of advice about how to choose an awesome name through research and brainstorming.
The book describes some great names (such as Amazon, Timberlake, and Church of Cupcakes). It also talks about some terrible names, including: “Xobni” (which is “in box” spelled backwards). “Speesees” which was chosen because the “Species” domain name was already taken, and “Canadian Tire” – a favorite Canadian mass merchandise retailer (and former employer of mine) that sells far more than tires.
I liked that the book included considerations for domain names. The domain names penisland.com (Pen Island) and findtherapist.com (Find Therapist) are two examples of names that should not have been chosen.
This book is a quick read that delivers on how to choose an awesome name.